SOUTHEND airport moved into profit in the half year to August on the back of a more than 40% rise in passengers. Discussions are taking place with various airlines about starting new services from the Essex airport which is due to have a terminal extension completed by January. Parent company, the transportation and distribution firm Stobart Group, saw pre-tax profit at the division which covers the airport come in at £100,000 against a loss of £300,000 in the same period last year. This came as revenue rose from £7.9 million to £10.4 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and internal rent (EBITDAR) is a key measure for Southend airport and was £700,000 for the period, against £200,000 a year earlier, Stobart said. Passenger numbers rose by 43% to 528,000 as easyJet based a fourth Airbus 319 at the airport to increase the number of destinations served. “Passenger load factors were particularly strong in July and August although movements have been lower than expected.” Stobart said. “In addition, passenger numbers have been steadily improving on the Aer Lingus Dublin route.” An extension to the terminal building is set to open in the new year, including with a new security layout, new arrivals hall, additional check-in desks, additional gates and retail and commercial space. “Discussions are being held with a number of European-based airlines with a view to commencing services in winter 2013 and beyond,” Stobart revealed. “Discussions will start in earnest when the asset construction is complete and prospective new airline customers are able to see all of the airport's facilities in operation. “With a capacity of more than five million passengers a year, Southend airport has potential to create significant value for shareholders and our focus is on achieving that potential. “Performance of airports is seasonal with winter volumes expected to be lower than summer but we expect to complete the year at London Southend Airport with the level of passenger numbers where we are profitable in EBITDA terms.”

A HOME, leisure and garden store is set to open in Southend next month, creating 150 new jobs. The Range will open at the old B&Q site, which has been empty for six years. The store, which opens on November 29, will sell furniture, furnishings, homeware and garden products. It will bring part-time and fulltime jobs and replaces plans for a £50million Tesco superstore on the site, in Queensway. Jobs on offer include store and department managers, warehouse staff and administration staff. Chris Dawson, founder of the Range chain, said: “We’re very pleased to be creating a number of jobs in the area and look forward to inviting potential employees to join the team. “I would like to thank the council for welcoming us and being so supportive. “We feel the Range is a unique shopping experience which has something for everyone and we are confident the people of Southend will enjoy what the Range has to offer. “We’ll be opening new shops in Derby, Southend and Bedford on the same day, making this date extra exciting for us as a company and creating 450 jobs in one day. “When looking for new shops, location is very important to us and we feel the new Southend store is the perfect location. “We’re a fast-growing company and expanding at a rapid rate, and I’m confident the Range in Southend will play an important role.” Permission for an extension bigger than two tennis courts was granted this week, for an instore garden centre. The site has been empty since B&Q moved to Fossetts Farm in 2007. Anita Thornberry, the council’s head of economy, regeneration and tourism, welcomed news of the new store when it was announced in August, saying it was a feather in Southend’s cap. Speaking at the time, she said: “Southend provides an excellent choice for retailers as we offer the largest urban area in the region and, as a leading visitor destination, Southend also gives the additional benefit of increased number of shoppers. “This site being selected by the Range sends out a clear message we are attracting interest from national brands. “Our town centre is in a comparatively strong position, with higher than average occupancy rates, and investment like this, coupled with projects such as the Forum [the new £27million library], signals confidence in our town to potential investors.”

A NEW school could be created with Southend Airport to provide highly-skilled workers for the town’s growing aviation industry. Southend Council is to work with Essex County Council to investigate setting up a “studio school” with Southend Airport to train 14 to 19-year-olds with the skills necessary for aviation engineering jobs and the wider aviation sector. The airport, which will have created 800 new jobs since the Stobart Group bought it for £120million in 2008 by the time the new terminal extension is finished early next year, has backed the plan. James Courtenay, Southend councillor responsible for children and learning, said: “If we can get enough employer support and pupils to make a studio school viable then I think it would be great. “The more different types of education we can offer to our young people the better. It is certainly worth exploring and sitting down with future employers. “The benefits to Southend are fairly self-evident; giving Southend people the right skills to get Southend-based jobs has got to be a good thing.”

Work on a £10 million extension to the London Southend Airport terminal is well on track for its New Year opening. Stage 1 of the terminal became operational in February 2012. Passengers flying out from the airport wait for a maximum of 4-minutes for security, whilst those arriving with just hand luggage can expect to travel from plane to train within 15 minutes of leaving the aircraft. This Stage 2 extensionis to ensure these high standards of service – which passengers clearly love, proven by the recent Which? Best Airport in Britain award - are not compromised as passenger numbers grow over time. The terminal building is becoming 90 metres longer. The first phase of this extension - a new Arrivals area - became operational back in June, just in time for the arrival of fourth based easyJet aircraft and the start of flights to Berlin and Krakow.It has enhanced baggage reclaim facilities and additional space for immigration as well as a dedicated domestic arrivals route. Five additional aircraft stands were also completed at the same time; significantly increasing the airport’s capacity. Work now underway will mean the amount of space for passengers in the security area will increase, as will the number of check in desks / baggage drop off points – there will also be a new covered walkway directly connecting the train station and terminal (just 100 paces apart). The Departure Lounge will also grow in size to enhance the experience for passengers relaxing and awaiting boarding after security. Retail and catering facilities will also be expanded throughout the terminal over time in order to provide a much wider range of shops and services available to passengers. The entire project will complete in early 2014 and willenable 300 new, local jobs. These will arise from the increase in Southend based aircraft over time which will result in a variety of additional operational and service roles. Work is also just getting underway on modifications to a number of the aircraft stands so more can accommodate the easyJet A320 aircraft, which will be operating flights to the winter sun destination of Tenerife. These start on 13 December, with tickets on sale now. London Southend Airport Operations Director David Lister said “Because of our ‘simply easier’ philosophy in all we do, Southend Airport is quickly becoming the airport of choice for people across Essex, London and beyond. That is why we are developing the terminal in order that we can maintain our unique level of customer service as we grow. With much debate about future airport capacity in the South East, we feel this continuing investment at London Southend demonstrates the significant capability which now exists here.”